[1/2] New York Governor Kathy Hochul celebrates at her U.S. midterm election night party after winning re-election in New York, New York, U.S. November 8, 2022.
REUTERS/Brendan McDermidNEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters) - New York's state Senate on Wednesday rejected Governor Kathy Hochul's choice to become the state's highest-ranking judge, a defeat for the state's top Democrat who failed to overcome opposition from her own party to the nomination.
Hochul's choice, Hector LaSalle, is the presiding justice of a midlevel state appeals court in Brooklyn, and would have been the first Hispanic chief judge of the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals.
Many had hoped Hochul would replace former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore with a more liberal judge.
"But it was not a vote on the merits of Justice LaSalle, who is an overwhelmingly qualified and talented jurist.